Why is my electrical cable getting hot inside the wall – Advice from Electriman, North London Electricians

## Why Is My Cable Getting Hot Inside the Wall?

Finding that a cable or the area around a socket or switch feels warm — or smelling something burning from inside a wall — is a warning sign you must take seriously. Cables are designed to carry electricity safely without generating noticeable heat. When they do get hot, something is wrong.

### What Causes Cables to Get Hot?

- **Overloaded circuit** — Too many appliances drawing more current than the cable is rated for. The cable heats up just like a wire in an electric fire element.

- **Undersized cable** — If a previous DIY job used cable that is too thin for the load it serves, it will overheat regularly.

- **Loose or poor connections** — A badly terminated connection at a socket, junction box, or consumer unit creates high resistance at that point, generating localised heat.

- **Cable buried in insulation** — Cables concealed in loft insulation or inside insulated walls cannot shed heat properly, reducing their current-carrying capacity significantly.

- **Damaged or degraded cable** — Old rubber-insulated cables (pre-1960s) or cables that have been mechanically damaged can develop faults causing heating.

- **Sustained high load** — Running high-draw appliances (electric showers, ovens, heaters) on circuits not designed for them.

### What Should You Do Right Now?

1. **Switch off the circuit** at your consumer unit (fuse board) immediately.

2. **Do not switch it back on**

Need a qualified electrician in North London?

Electriman covers Mill Hill, Barnet, Finchley, Edgware, Enfield, Watford and surrounding areas. All work is Part P certified and fully insured.